Cougars Face Setback Against New Boston, Look Ahead to District Play

September 22, 2025 – The Grace Community School football team faced another challenging night on the road last Friday against New Boston. The Cougars came out strong and remained competitive with the Lions, narrowing the score to 14–7 just before halftime. However, injuries and illnesses ultimately proved too much for Grace to overcome. The game concluded with a final score of 35–14 in favor of New Boston.

Senior Cole Stanley stepped up to lead the Cougar offense in the absence of freshman Slade Etheredge who was sidelined for much of the night due to injury. Stanley completed 9 of 20 passes for 63 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed 15 times for 60 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Bradon Alexander contributed 14 carries for 57 yards, while Justus McQuay, a senior running back, had 3 carries for 10 yards. In the receiving corps, Dylan Stinson, a junior, led the way with 42 yards on 3 receptions. Senior Elijah Hicks added one catch for 21 yards, and senior Doak Porter recorded 2 catches for 14 yards and the team’s sole receiving touchdown. McQuay, junior Christian Henry and Alexander also contributed receptions.

On the defensive side, Andrew Gardner, a junior linebacker, continued his standout season by leading the team with 11 tackles and 2 quarterback pressures. Junior Mac Gautier also had a strong performance, recording 5 tackles.

With their pre-district schedule now complete, Grace will begin district play this week. The Cougars will host Brentwood at Clyde-Perkins Stadium on Friday night, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend and bring the energy as Grace looks to open district competition with a strong performance.